19 dead in Kolkata Durga Puja crowd crush, organisers detained, PM expresses grief | Top updates

New Delhi: At least 19 people died after a crowd crush at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity Durga Puja pandal in central Kolkata on Saturday evening. Several others suffered injuries as large crowds gathered during the peak hours of Saptami festivities. Police said the incident occurred at the pandal’s exit gate amid heavy crowds and rainfall. Authorities closed the venue to visitors and took the injured to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

Rain swells crowd

Eyewitnesses said rain prompted more visitors to enter the already crowded pandal. However, the exact circumstances that led to the crush remain unclear. “The incident took place around 7:30 pm. The crowd at the pandal was already swelling. As it started to rain more people entered the pandal. This resulted in a stampede. Several people were injured,” Dipali Das, a pandal hopper, told the media.

Another visitor, Saikat Banerjee, alleged that a lack of crowd management worsened the situation. He claimed that organisers, volunteers and police personnel were absent as people pushed one another.

“There were no puja organsier, no police and no volunteer. Everyone was pushing each other and shouting. Many fell ill,” he said.

Police close pandal

Kolkata Police placed the time of the incident at around 7:40 pm, according to news agency ANI. “Today at around 7:40 pm, a stampede occurred at the exit gate of Sarada Park (Chor Bagan) Puja Pandal, under Girish Park Police Station, due to heavy crowds of pandal hoppers amid rainfall. The Puja Pandal has now been closed to visitors. All injured persons were rescued and shifted to MCH for treatment,” the police said.

Police detained the pandal organisers and private security personnel following the incident.

PM Modi announces compensation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each person who died. The injured will receive Rs 50,000 each. “Stampede in Kolkata extremely distressing; my thoughts with people who have lost loved ones,” Modi said.

Leaders visit hospital

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal visited the injured at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit the injured in hospitals on Sunday, news agency PTI reported.